Commentary: 90 minutes, 6 gubernatorial candidates, zero big moments but some differences that matter

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Two of our esteemed gubernatorial candidates, the cowboy and the dilettante, apparently could not find ties for the first debate Wednesday night, showing up with dress shirts casually unbuttoned.Mr.

Middleground sported a scruffy sorta-beard, apparently unable to pay for a razor in the midst of California’s affordability crisis.It’s a trademark look that always makes me think if this doesn’t work out, he’ll opt to live on a boat in some not-too-expensive slip by the Bay.

The billionaire wore Nikes instead of dress shoes, a sartorial nod perhaps to his bid to be the outsider-fighter.Or maybe his feet just hurt.

The last two contenders were remarkably unremarkable.Why start with fashion? Honestly, it might be the most interesting, and telling, bit of insight that came from this first (of three) chances for our next governor to let us know who they are and what they’re made of.

If the debate showed us anything, it’s that none of these candidates are hiding follow-me charisma or an excitement-inducing political vision for our collective future.Yes, there were a few decent jabs here and there about Tom Steyer’s money, Katie Porter’s temper, Matt Mahan’s tech ties and Chad Bianco’s far-right world view.

But even those were predictable.Still, in between the yawns, there were a couple of answers worth noting, ones that might actually give us insight into how the Democratic candidates differ (Despite all the hype, it seems increasingly unlikely that two Republicans will come out of the primary, and even more unlikely that in a Democratic vs.

Republican race, the Democrat would lose in blue California.) California The debate took place at a critical moment in the gubernatorial race.Ballots will start landing in mailboxes in less than two weeks, and voters are split by a crowded field of candidates.I’ll start with a surprising place where I agreed with Steve Hil...